The ministry is examining a set of radical changes made by Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat to their labour laws, including moves to freeze them altogether. Ten central trade unions wrote to the Geneva-based International Labour Organisation (ILO), stating that changes in labour laws by these states violate workers’ rights and ILO convention No 144, to which India is a signatory. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states had passed ordinances to give effect to various changes, some of which effectively suspend labour laws. “Freezing of labour laws can be done for three months, not three years. “The moves to simply suspend labour laws effectively brings the North American hire-and-fire model to the Indian hinterland economy.

Source: Hindustan Times May 31, 2020 18:27 UTC